Meera Varma, a mental health activist who worked with Joe Biden’s administration, was injured after a stabbing attack inside a Burbank home in which her mother, Meera Varma, a teacher, was killed.
The Burbank Police Department announced the arrest of 30-year-old Sergio Fryer on suspicion of murdering 59-year-old Aarti Varma and the attempted murder of her 25-year-old daughter. The police did not reveal the daughter’s name, but ABC7 confirmed, citing a neighbor, that the daughter is Meera Varma, who worked with Oprah Winfrey, former President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and former Vice President Kamala Harris.Aarti Varma taught first grade at Bret Harte Elementary School in Burbank.According to Burbank police, officers were called to the 2800 block of North Brighton Street around 6 a.m. April 20 after a report of two people stabbed inside a home. “Upon arrival, officers found two adult victims with stab wounds,” the statement said. They were taken to the hospital where Aarti died.
Police said they identified Fryer as a person of interest after conducting a “thorough investigation, which included interviewing witnesses, collecting and reviewing surveillance video,” according to the release. Fryer was found at a residence in the 500 block of East Palm Avenue in Burbank.“He was taken into custody without incident, and evidence related to the crime was recovered,” police said.“The relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims is still under investigation, as is the motive,” the statement said.Neighbors said that Aarti’s husband is currently in India. Neighbor Victor Joly said when asked about the husband’s reaction: “He couldn’t even speak properly… He was crying.” “It came as a shock when we learned a few minutes ago that their home had been broken into,” Jolly told Eyewitness News. A neighbor said she shared surveillance video with police showing the suspect leaving the crime scene.
